The following local students were named to the presidents list for the 2011 fall semester at the University of Iowa. In order to be included on the list, a student must have a minimum 4.0 grade point average in all academic subjects for the preceding two semesters, with a total of at least 12 semester hours of credit per semester during that period.

The following local students have been named to the deanís list for the fall semester 2011 at the University of Iowa.

Undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the Tippie College of Business who achieve a grade point average of 3.50 or higher on 12 semester hours or more of graded course work during a given semester or summer session and who have no semester hours of incomplete no grade reported during the same semester are recognized by inclusion on the deanís list for that semester. Beginning fall 2011, College of Nursing students participating in clinical courses must have a total of 12 semester hours of earned credit, with 8 semester hours of graded credit with a grade point average of 3.50 or higher.

Jonathan Wolf, an eighth grader of Ames, placed third in the annual Young Artists Concerto Competition Feb. 5, 2012 on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Ten Iowa high school students participated on violin, clarinet, bass clarinet, marimba, flute, trombone and trumpet. Jonathan performed the 1st movement of Mozartís Violin Concerto in A Major and was given $150 in prize money.

Thomas George McGuire, of Ames, has been named to the deanís list for the 2011 fall semester at Elon University in Elon, N.C. The deanís list is composed of students with no grade below a B minus and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in a minimum of 12 semester hours. McGuire is a 2011 graduate of Gilbert High School and is a member of the Elon Phoenix football team.

Jordan Cooper, of Ames, and Bradi Donahoe, of Maxwell, were both appointed to the fall semester 2011 academic deanís list at the University of Dubuque. To be named to the deanís list, a student must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for that semester.

Air National Guard Airman Drew M. Vespestad graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Vespestad is the grandson of Hubert Vespestad, of Maxwell, and son of Andy Vespestad, of Alleman.

Taylor Swan, of Ames, has been named to the fall semester 2011 deanís list at Iowa Lakes Community College. Students who have achieved a 3.25 grade point average or better for the semester are recognized by inclusion on the deanís list.

Katherine Scarlett, of Nevada, was named to the fall 2011 deanís list at Clarke University in Dubuque. The deanís list recognizes full-time students who earn a grade point average of 3.65 or above, computed on a minimum of 12 graded hours during the previous semester.

Iowa State Universityís Army Reserve Officersí Training Corps has won a 2011 MacArthur Award from the U.S. Army Cadet Command and the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation. One of eight awards presented to the top Army ROTC programs in the nation, it recognizes the ideals of duty, honor and country as advocated by MacArthur.

The MacArthur Award is based on a combination of the achievement of the schoolís commissioning mission, cadetsí performance and standing on the Commandís national Order of Merit List, and cadet retention rate.

Iowa Stateís ROTC represents Cadet Commandís 3rd Brigade, which consists of the 40 senior Army ROTC programs in the Midwest. Cadet Command is located in Fort Knox, Ky.

In December, the Cyclone Army ROTC Battalion at Iowa State was named the top program in the 3rd Brigade.

Tiffany Alft, Kristin Emery, Alexis Hall, Brittany Holmes, Courtney Hornberg and Debbie Johnson, all of Ames, and Katrina Sherry, of Boone, were named to the presidentís list for the fall 2011 semester at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines. To qualify for this academic recognition, students must attain a grade point average of 3.75 or higher in their most recent semester, for a minimum of six credit hours.

Kyli Nelson and Brooke Wood, of Ames; Nancy Alexander and Chelsea Hartwig, of Boone; and Meggan Sheehan, of Madrid, were all named to the deanís list, for the fall 2011 semester at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines. To qualify for this academic recognition, students must attain a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.749 in their most recent semester, for a minimum of six credit hours.

Emily Bibler, of Ames, creative director for the Iowa organic waste recycler Chamness Technology, Inc. was selected as the grand prize winner of the 2012 International Compost AwarenessWeek poster contest. Biblerís poster will be distributed nationwide during International Compost Awareness Week, May 7 to 12.

Jim and Carol Miller, of Ames, have been appointed parent communication co-chairs of the University of Evansville (Indiana) Parents Council. The Parents Council is an advisory board to the University of Evansville made up of appointed parent representatives. The council meets twice a year on campus, and its members serve as volunteers at university activities and events. The council may submit formal recommendations to the administration regarding student concerns and suggestions.

Members of the Parents Council are a resource for all university parents, assisting with questions and acting as liaisons to appropriate University resources, volunteer opportunities, and administrative contacts. The Parents Council is coordinated through the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations.

Mackenzie Kay Bourke, of Ames; Michelle L. Waldo and Korey Gail Marie Williams, of Boone; Katrina Elizabeth Mittlestadt, of Collins; Alison S. Mackey, of Huxley; Taylor Raines Christensen, Madrid; Kacey Leigh Charron and Lindsey Ann Godwin, of Maxwell; and Brittney Taylor Kruschwitz, of Nevada, have been named to the 2011 fall semester deanís list at Grand View University in Des Moines. The students are named to the deanís list for earning a grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale while carrying at least 12 hours of classes.

Brandon Mark Harris, Ashley Danielle Lawrence and Sara Jean Miner, of Ames; Kaitlyn Rene Stotts, of Boone; Andrea Marie Markey, of Colo; Rebecca Margaret Johnston, Jeri Elizabeth Nagle and Renae Walker, of Nevada; Kristina Renee Rose, of Ogden; Katelynn Anne Burt, of Slater; and Trent Rian Muhlenburg and Peter Matthew Sirna, of Story City, were named to the presidentís list for the fall 2011 semester at Grand View University in Des Moines. The students are named to the presidentís list for earning a grade point average of 4.0 while carrying at least 12 hours of classes.

Jodi Jurik, of Ames, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in December from Grand View University in Des Moines.

Ashley Danielle Lawrence, of Ames, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in December from Grand View University in Des Moines.

The Missouri House of Representatives passed a resolution Jan. 31, recognizing the service of AmeriCorps members, including Eric Feld, Mark Wilson and Hannah Frederick, all of Ames, for their indispensible role in the recovery efforts following the devastating tornado that struck Joplin May 22, 2011. Feld and Wilson, who served 60 days, and Frederick, who served 30 days with Conservation Corps Iowa, were among 300 AmeriCorps members from across the country that deployed to Joplin following the tornado.

Sophia Courneya, of Ames, and Shawn Plunkett, of Maxwell, were named to the fall semester 2011-12 deanís list at Allen College in Waterloo. Students named to the deanís list in the nursing programs must complete at least 12 semester hours and achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or above.

Ashley Cran and Erica Lange, of Ames; Danielle Lampe, of Nevada; and Betsy Nusbaum, of State Center, were named to the Buena Vista University Graduate and Professional Studies deanís list for terms one and two. Students named to the deanís list must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for the two terms, based on a 4.0 grade point system, and must have taken at least 12 hours of coursework. Lange and Nusbaum both received perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the two terms.

Makensie Brown, of Huxley, was named to the deanís list for the fall semester at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. Students named to the deanís list must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for the semester based on a 4.0 grade point system and must have taken at least 12 hours of coursework. Brown received a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the semester.

Andrew John Kaizer and Taylor Linnea Mirka, of Ames, were named to the fall 2011 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs List at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester 3.50 to 3.99 grade point average and must complete 12 semester hours of credit.

Alexander Mark Kaizer and MyungJung Kang, of Ames; Katelynn Ann Geisinger, of Colo; and Quincy Schafbuch, of Madrid, were named to the fall 2011 Presidentís List at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester 4.0 grade point average and must complete 12 semester hours of credit.

Andrew Johnston, of Ames, made the deanís list for the fall quarter 2011 at DePaul University in Chicago, Ill. In order to qualify for the deanís list at DePaul, students must earn above a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

John Tyler Davis, of Ames, was among nearly 1,250 Marshall University students who were recognized at the universityís winter commencement Dec. 10 in Huntington, W.Va. Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Darin R. Blum, Myron E. Buchanan, Amber R. Duden, Indigo J. Egli-Davis, Katlyn A. Humlicek, Scott A. Klinkel, Molly M. McGrory, Kaitlyn M. Milligan, Cynthia P. Sari and Krista Stramel, all of Ames; and Chelsea N. Wehr, of Pilot Mound, were named to the deanís list for the fall 2011 semester at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. These students have achieved a 3.3 grade point average or higher after completing 12 or more credit hours with the college.

Evan Bartlett, of Nevada, and Christopher Schaudt, of Slater, were named to the deanís honor list for the fall 2011 semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Students earned a 3.5 to 3.99 average to qualify for the honor list.

Amanda Schuman, of Nevada, was named to the deanís high honor list for the fall 2011 semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Students qualified for the high honor list by achieving a 4.0 straight ďAĒ average.

Daniel Theis, of Ames, received a Doctor of Philosophy degree at winter commencement Dec. 16, at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D.

Ames: Kristin Upah, of Ames, who achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, has been named to the deanís list for fall 2011 team at St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

Donna Thornton, of Zearing, was inducted Jan. 24 into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at AIB College of Business in Des Moines. Thornton now is eligible for special scholarships at AIB. Those scholarship opportunities are also available to Phi Theta Kappa members who transfer from other schools into AIBís bachelorís degree completion program. Phi Theta Kappans must have a GPA of 3.5 or above, show good moral character and possess recognized qualities of good citizenship.

Sarah C. Hundertmark, of Ames, has been named to the deanís list for the fall semester of the 2011-12 academic year at Concordia University in Mequon, Wis. To be eligible for the honor, students must achieve a minimum 3.50 grade point average.

Drew Metcalf, of Ames, has been named to the deanís list for fall semester 2011 at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. To qualify for the deanís list, full-time students must have successfully completed 12 or more credits in the given semester with a major grade point average of 3.50 or better

Taylor N. Bradley, Paizen Ku and Hanna B Vollbrecht, all of Ames, have made the deanís list for the 2011 fall semester at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. Students on the list all achieved a grade point average of 3.66

or higher while taking 12 or more credits.

Nicholas Pearey, of Cambridge, was named to the honors list for the fall 2011 term at Graceland University in Lamoni. Students with a grade point average between 3.65 and 3.99 are named to the honors list.

Kelli Holland, of Nevada, was named to the presidentís list for the fall 2011 term at Graceland University in Lamoni. Students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average are named to the presidentís list.

Story County Conservationís environmental education staff recently received two notable awards in recognition of outstanding service in the environmental education field. The environmental education staff was awarded the 2011 Outstanding Environmental Education Program award for excellence in environmental education programming (with three or more full-time naturalists). The environmental education staff includes environmental education coordinator Jerry Keys and naturalists Linda Zaletel, Amy Yoakum and Heather Hucka.

Story County Conservation hired its first full-time naturalist in 1982. Since then, the environmental education program has grown to four full-time staff and two summer naturalists. Last year, Story County Conservation conducted 1,140 programs in all seven school districts in Story County and public programs including O.W.L.S., Wild Tots, Halloween Hike, Pooches in the Park, wildflower hikes, and summer nature camps.

Linda Zaletel was also awarded the 2011 Aldo Leopold Environmental Education Award for lifetime achievement in environmental education excellence and leadership. She has presented numerous local, state, regional and national workshops and served on several workshop planning committees. She was the editor of the Iowa Women in Natural Resources newsletter in 1989, editor of the Iowa Conservation Education Council newsletter for four years, and co-editor of the Iowa Ornithologists Union newsletter for 16 years. In addition, Zaletel served as the Iowa Association of Naturalists representative on the Resource Enhancement and Protection/Conservation Education Program Board for over 10 years. She most recently created KinderNature, a website offering environmental education activities for early childhood education groups. Zaletel will retire in May 2012 after 32 years of service.

The awards are sponsored by the Iowa Association of Naturalists and the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition and will be presented in March at the associationís spring workshop.

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